BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees need not worry
about facing Pedro Martinez three times in a 13-day span. They
will have Mike Mussina on the mound each time.

Mussina struck out a season-high 12 batters over eight innings
to outduel the three-time Cy Young Award winner as the Yankees
edged the Boston Red Sox, 2-1.

Bernie Williams homered and slumping Paul O'Neill had a
run-scoring single for the Yankees, who completed a sweep of the
abbreviated two-game series and moved ahead of the Red Sox into
first place in the American League East.

Mussina (5-4) allowed one run and six hits and bailed out left
fielder Chuck Knoblauch of a potentially disastrous gaffe in the
seventh inning.

Mariano Rivera retired the side in order for his 13th save.

Because of Tuesday's rainout, Mussina and Martinez are scheduled
to oppose each other next Wednesday at Fenway Park and again on
June 4 in a makeup game at Yankee Stadium.

"I'm not pitching against Pedro as much as the nine guys who go
up to the plate," Mussina said. "My concern is what I can do
with their guys."

Martinez (6-1) also struck out 12 in his first complete game of
the season but lost for the first time since September 20
against Cleveland. He allowed six hits, walked three and
reached double digits in strikeouts for the 76th time in his
career.

But the Yankees have no fear against a pitcher recognized by
many as the best in baseball. Martinez has lost his last three
decisions against New York, and the Yankees have won the last
five games he has started.

"I have no idea why," Boston manager Jimy Williams said. "We
have had a lot of key pitching performances against him."

Martinez scattered three singles over the first three innings
before Williams homered for the second straight game, belting a
1-2 pitch over the right-center field wall to open the fourth.

The Yankees manufactured a run off Martinez in the fifth. Scott
Brosius led off with a single and advanced to second on a
one-out walk to Knoblauch. Derek Jeter hit a potential
double-play ball to shortstop, but second baseman Jose Offerman
failed to get the ball out of his glove in time to make the
throw to first base.

That set the stage for O'Neill, who was battling a 2-for-28
slump. He reached for a low, outside pitch and golfed it into
left field for an RBI single.

"I'm not thinking about Pedro, I'm just thinking about putting
the ball in play and get a base hit with men in scoring
position," O'Neill said. "I'm going to do that more and I'm
going to hit one into the upper deck."

With Shea Hillenbrand on first in the seventh, Brian Daubauch
hit a short fly ball down the left field line. Knoblauch
appeared to lose the ball momentarily in the sun and backed off
as shortstop Jeter approached.

The ball bounced into the stands for a ground rules double,
keeping Hillenbrand at third base. Mussina took advantage by
striking out Trot Nixon to end the inning.

"That ball never got out of the sun," Yankees manager Joe Torre
said of Daubach's fly ball. "We caught a break when it went into
the stands."

Manny Ramirez gave Mussina a scare when he flied out to deep
right-center field in the top of the sixth. Carl Everett had no
success against Mussina, striking out four times.

The 12 strikeouts were the most for Mussina since he tied a
career high with 15 on September 24 at Boston while with
Baltimore.

"Both (pitchers) were on top of their games," Boston catcher
Jason Varitek said. "It was just one run. We didn't do it
offensively."

The Red Sox scored their only run in the third. Mussina retired
the first eight batters he faced with four strikeouts before
Nixon lined a single to right field and scored on a ground
single to right by Offerman.